Tucker Bond set at $200,000

POMEROY, Ohio – A former probation officer, court baliff and jail officer has been arraigned on 28 counts in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas.

Larry D. Tucker, 55, of Pomeroy, appeared in court following his arrest and being indicted on 27 felony counts and one misdemeanor count involving his alleged conduct while employed with the Meigs County Common Pleas Court and the Middleport Jail. His bond was set at $200,000 cash assured.

Tucker was represented for the purposes of the arraignment by Assistant State Public Defender, Herman Carson. Carson said that one of four trial attorneys out of the Public Defender’s central office would be representing Tucker in furture proceedings. Tucker’s request for a public defender was granted by Judge Linton D. Lewis, Jr.

Judge Lewis also heard the state’s argument and recommendation for the bond to be set at $200,000 cash assured. Chris Kinsler, special prosecutor with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, represented the state in the case. Kinsler argued that given the nature of the charges and the “lions share” of the allegations were sexual crimes, the bond should be set at $200,000. Carson argued that Tucker had been a life long resident of Meigs County and has served on the Meigs Local School Board and should be allowed a $100,000 bond with 10 percent down or at least to have 10 percent allowed for the $200,000. Judge Lewis responded to Carson’s arguement, “The bond is the bond.”

Tucker waived his right to have the charges read and entered a plea of not guilty to all of the charges. He was indicted on a total of 28 counts with 27 being felony charges along with one misdemeanor. Tucker was charged with the following: six counts of Kidnapping, all felonies of the first degree; six counts of Sexual Battery, all felonies of the third degree; five counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, all felonies of the fourth degree; five counts of Attempted Sexual Battery, all felonies of the fourth degree; four counts of Attempted Compelling Prostitution, all felonies of the fourth degree; one count of Theft in Office, a felony of the fifth degree; and one count of Soliciting, a misdemeanor of the third degree. Tucker is expected to be arraigned on the charges soon. He was in the custody of the Ashland County Sheriff over the weekend following his arrest on a warrant from Meigs County. The counts involve 11 alleged victims.

Several of the charges carry specifications from the grand jury including on the Kidnapping charge, “The Grand Jurors further find and specify that Larry D. Tucker did commit the Kidnapping with a sexual motivation as described in Section 2941.147 of the Revised Code.

The Sexual Battery charge along with several other charges includes a specification, “The Grand Jurors further find and specify that Larry D. Tucker is a sexually violent predator as described in Section 2941.148 of the Revised Code.”

The charges allegedly occurred between January 1, 2011 through to November 8, 2017.

A special judge, prosecutor and court reporter have been called in to handle the case. The case was also investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

The case will now move forward through the court. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.